Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-07-14
BY ACCIDENT.

upon family maItersi anu tue WoIk
done seldom appears in print, or il
newspaper reporters get hold of the
circumstance, the particulars are kept
away from them. For long term of
years many assignments as detective
connected with the force'of one of our
large cities, were entirely Of this
character, and some of the incidents
can be related with out injury to any
ones feelings. l did not associate
with the criminal detectives at oil, and
the majority Of them did not know me
by name.
One morning l was sent for by the
chief to take up new case, and when
entered his Office / found lady pre-
sent. She was woman not over 25
years Of age, handsome, educated, and
q society ornament. She was the
second wife of rich old wholesale
merchant whom ! will call Williams.
They had been married about year
and half, and it was said that it was
a love match. She had come TO head
quarters in her. own carriage in broad
daylight to tell her story 10 the chief
and seek the services of a detective
may tell you that I was prejudiced
IN her favor from the first glance. She
was one of those women whose every
word is of interest. and whose every
gesture has touch of artlessness in it.
And she could shed big tears, and
catch little sobs, and put such look
into her brown eyes as would make
even an old detective almost want to
die for her. When her story had been
simmered down it amounted to this:
For some time past she had been miss
ing jewellery and sums of money A
private detective had been employed,
but had met with no success in dis
covering the thief. One robbery in
cluded valuable diamond ring; an
other pair of earrings; third the
sum of $500 in gold; a fourth the sum
OF $500 in greenbacks. About 10 days
previous to her visit package Sl2,-
900 had been taken from her hus-
bands secretary, and at the same time
she had missed diamond brooch
from her dressing case. One of the
regular detectives had been working
on this last steal for over a week, and
was still at it, although he had thus
far been unable to secure clue.
1t was not only natural that Mrs
Williams should be interested in the
recovery of the property but that her
great interest should lead her to call
at headquarters to consult with the
chief. In fact, her husband was con-
fined to his room by an attack of the
gout, and, for all we knew to the con-
trary, it was by his advice that she
came. 1t would appear sharper IN me
to say that suspected something
wrong from the very start, but honesty
compels me to say that I didn't When
she had departed the chief said to me:
"This looks like very simple case
and can't see why Taylor has not
picked up some clue. The robberies
have been perpetrated by some of the
servants, and I'll give you a fortnight
to trap the guilty party
was at liberty to consult Taylor,
The only servants who had access to
the bedroom we're the chambermaid
and the butler. The last parsonage
had no right there, of course, but hav
ing the run Of the house he could slip
into the room. Taylor had suspected
him, rather than the chambermaio,
and devoted his whole time to watch
ing the man, Nothing but disappoint-
ments had turned up. The butler had
the best of recommendations, was
without vices Of any sort, and search
of his effects had brought nothing to
light which could implicate him. 1t
was agreed that I should look out for
the chambermaid, and l put in week
on the case to find out that she also
had the best of recommendations, and
that the probabilities were all in her
favor. If it was true that either of
the servants had committed the rob-
berries, it was likewise true that they
had covered their tracks SO well that
we had no hopes of making an arrest.
| worked on the case three weeks, and
then abandoned it. Mrs, Williams
seemed much more disappointed than
her husband over my failure, and she
shed tears Of vexation when informed
that / was to drop the case. II meant
to keep the butler and chambermaid
under surveillance for a time longer,
but I could not promise that anything
would come it.
The third day after this, Fate play
ed Inc curious trick. had dropped
into family restaurant for a plate Of
oysters, and not caring to have corners
and goers study my face, | went up
stair to be served in one of the little
rooms or stalls. l had deyoured the
oysters and drunk my coffee when a
lady and gentleman entered the stall
on the right, and itwasn't ten seconds
before ! recognized Mrs.. Williams
voice. The mans identity I also soon
established by his tones. He was
handsome, dissipated chap naned
Raynor, known in all 1.-the clubs as a
Uraat anand thrift and ranortad tof+ba